Timor Leste

Food insecurity mainly drives the humanitarian crisis in Timor-Leste. The number of people facing severe acute food insecurity – i.e. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse levels – and needing urgent humanitarian assistance significantly increased in 2024 compared to 2023. Around 364,000 people (27% of the population) were projected to face severe acute food insecurity from May–September 2024. Priority needs besides food include potable water and livelihood support.

The main factors driving the acute food insecurity crisis in the country are drought-like conditions caused by El Niño, floods and landslides caused by heavy rains, increasing food prices, and a lack of purchasing power to afford food.

Timor-Leste faces multiple factors related to food availability and access as well as the poor quality and low quantity of food consumption. Low agricultural productivity and limited livelihood opportunities limit food availability and access for the population. People tend to sustain themselves through singular or limited livelihood strategies. The impact of climate hazards, such as floods, droughts, cyclones, and earthquakes, also affects agricultural productivity and livelihoods. Poor WASH, health, and education facilities and inadequate communications and agricultural infrastructure aggravate the situation.

(IPC 29/02/2024, IPC 17/01/2019, IPC 14/02/2023, WB accessed 23/01/2025)